Shillong, Sep 30: The alleged irregularities in the recruitment for contractual nurses at the Maternity and Child Health Hospital in Nongstoiñ has triggered a political and administrative row, with the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills constituting a formal inquiry into the process. Final results of the recruitment process will be withheld until the probe is completed.
The recruitment was thrown into chaos yesterday after Nongstoiñ MDC Juristman Iawphniaw of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) barged into the DC’s office premises where interviews for nursing staff hopefuls was being conducted. Talks with the DC, Hema Nayak, did not assuage him and today he lived up to his promise of disrupting the interviews again, this time barging past security at the gate with his supporters after supposedly being made to wait for two hours.
Yesterday’s Nayak had taken a dim view of the interruption, condemning the unauthorised entry of Iawphniaw and the disruption and distress he caused to staff and interviewees. Today, however, Iawphniaw came armed with “evidence” of bribes being paid and Nayak constituted an inquiry.
“Integrity, transparency and meritocracy in the recruitment process are of paramount importance and any act of corruption or illegal demand will be dealt with strictly in accordance with law,” she said.
The two-member inquiry committee comprises Superintendent of Police Herbert Kharkongor and Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate E Lyngdoh.
To safeguard the sanctity of the process, the administration said no result or final selection list will be published or released until the inquiry is fully completed and the matter thoroughly resolved. Candidates and public have been advised not to fall prey to touts, middlemen or individuals claiming ability to influence selection, and to immediately report any illegal solicitation to the district administration or the inquiry committee.
The district administration said necessary action as per the law will follow after submission of the inquiry report.
Speaking to reporters after this morning’s incident, Iawphniaw alleged the government is playing a game with the youth.
“For more than eight years we have conceived the rage inside of us because the government has turned a blind eye to our demands and the rights of our youth. The youth have invested several years to become employed and be the breadwinners for their parents and family but their rights have been stolen,” he said.
Iawphniaw said he had met the DC several times with a calm appeal that there should not be any underhand means or bribery.
“What’s surprising is that when I came here before the exam, I was told that cameras would be set up in the examination hall. But when they conducted the examination the entire Nongstoiñ was without power supply. Do you think the camera would be effective when there was no electricity? Will the camera function? This is all just a game of the MDA government to entertain their loved ones, their family circle and close ones to get employed,” he alleged, seemingly unaware that cameras can be powered by battery.
The first time MDC also said that he has been approached by many youth who substantiated the allegations that bribery is necessary to get government jobs in the district. “Even in the marketplace everyone knows that, in Nongstoiñ, if you want a job you have to have money… Give Rs 4-5 lakh and you will get a job… Without it don’t expect anything.”
He also justified the forced entry he and his supporters made into the DC’s office premises today, saying that the administration had shown them disrespect by not communicating during the two hours they were made to wait outside. “Now they will go and tell people that the VPP behaves like a gang… We came peacefully but they didn’t want peace. They wanted fire and we gave them a little fire.”
The main body of the VPP backed its MDC today, with party spokesperson Airpeace Rani saying that Iawphniaw’s intervention did not arise without prior warning. Rani said the matter concerning alleged irregularities had already been brought before the Deputy Commissioner on September 17 for examination but the concerns were not adequately addressed when the interviews began yesterday.
The party, which runs the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) but is in opposition in the state government, demanded a transparent and impartial inquiry, proper verification of audio recording and other material submitted, examination of concerns placed before the DC on September 17.
In addition, VPP youth wing president Marbud Dkhar and secretary Nathaniel Mawrie alleged that it has come to public notice and is widely circulated on social media that agents and middlemen involving high-ranking public representatives have been demanding and collecting bribes assuring selection.
